Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

I have completed three Appalachian Trail thru-hikes and always worn these boots. These are designed to not require breaking in - and that is accurate.

I believe the Lowa site classifies these as having a "life" of around 400 miles. My experience hiking the 2,174 AT is that I will go through between three and four sets of these boots. Thats about 600 miles per boot. Given the boot's light weight and comfort - excellent boot for hiking the AT.

Just a couple of noted issues: I tend to scuff the boot toe on the ground/rocks/roots while hiking. The rubber toe gets beat up pretty bad and will start to separate. I use shoe goo to re-attach the rubber - works pretty well.

Also, I have never considered these boots to be waterproof. In a rainstorm the water will consistently penetrate through the leather. I've gotten use to that and accept it. It may be possible to treat the leather with a treatment to improve water repellancy.

Overall, this boot is a great compromise between trail runners and heavier boots. These Lowas provide good ankle support along with a light weight (for boots).

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

The good:
I absolutely love this boot. It is comfortable, provides the best traction I have ever had, and is incredibly waterproof. If you are looking for comfort, this boot feels like a tall sneaker. Mine required absolutely no break-in. I did a short (12 mile) one day hike the day after purchasing and had no issues. I added that it has a distinct footprint as a positive because if you ever need to retrace your own footsteps, this boot stands out if there are any other prints around.

The bad:
I am 190 pounds, and my pack varies depending on the trip. When I am doing day hikes with very little weight, there is no problem but on longer backpacking trips with 35+ pounds these boots don't offer enough sole support even with the insoles REI sells. If I were to put a solid number on it, the total weight you put on these boots should be less than 215 lbs for best support.

Other notes:
-They seem to run a little narrow. I wear normal width boots but bought a wide width for this one.
-Vibram soles plus the tread pattern give remarkable traction over rock, hardpack, dirt. Snow traction is good, and wet traction is good.
-Waterproofing is excellent. I never got my feet wet unless they were submerged.

My bottom line: excellent boot, well worth it. I got a different pair for heavier multi-day trips.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

I was in need of some hiking boots last minute as I was away and had not planned on a hike. I stopped in the REI flagship store in Denver to rent some equipment and purschase some boots. I tried on several boots and took a chance on the Lowa's. And I'm glad I did. The following day I did a ten plus mile hike and ascended over 3,400'. For brand new boots they felt as if I always owned them. I hiked packed snow, gravel, large rock, and snowshoed.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

This boot is excellent for the casual weekend hiker, and maybe the rare short trek over harsher terrain, but if your looking for a durable boot that will withstand wear-and-tear on extended bushwacks and boulder fields, then this is not it.

I guide backpacking trips up CO 14ers and typically cover 50+ miles a week (on and off trails) with an 85-90 pound pack. These boots were a quick purchase to replace my beloved Asolos, and first immpresions were good because they broke in very fast and remained comfortable even after long days of scouting routes.

however, they started to show serious wear after only a couple weeks... They became more water resistant than waterproof, and the leather and rubber began to split and pull apart. After a month of use, they had become nearly unusable and were replaced by Kaylands.

I attribute their fast wear to days of hiking through waist deep snow and extremely rocky terrain.

If all you want are comfortable, low priced boots to wear on weekend hikes then these are great and I highly recommend them because they really are maybe the most comfortable (out of the box) Ive worn.

I dont recommend these to those planning to do more extensive hikes and absolutly nobody should buy these if they are looking for durable boots on rough terrain because these are not them.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

I wanted to get a few miles (200) on these before I reviewed them. A perfect boot for me as I am looking for:- Comfortable out of the box- Offer enough support to haul 50+ lbs pack for days on end yet also function well as a hiking boot- Light weight (for a boot)- Durable- Reasonably waterproofJust got back from a week in the Wind Rivers backpacking in various conditions (snow,mud, talus scrambling, and nice trails). A very impressive boot. No blisters, hot spots or surprises. Could tell the weight difference between the Lowa and my standard backpacking boots, but still had all the comfort and support. Like another reviewer noted, these are not waterproof but after I treated the leather they were good enough for the occasional stream crossing and wet meadow walking.I have a high volume wide foot. The boot fit me great although it was a bit odd not having pinch points on each side. The boot felt like having on a tight sock with equal pressure all around - which I have to imagine is a good thing. Definetly runs a bit small. I usually wear 13 wide and had to jump up to a 14 which was a bit large but I bought a new high volume footbed that was thicker so it worked out well. I would say they run 1/2 size too small.Speaking of the included footbeds. They are pretty thin and I am guessing that they expect you to buy some aftermarket ones. They are not the same quality as the boots for sure. The price for the boots, new footbeds, [...] etc., is a bit high but for some really nice boots that keep your dogs from howling after a hard day backpacking it is worth it. I personally would not use these for day hiking as I do not need the ankle support and I would likely go with the low cut Renegades. However, if you need ankle support this may be a fine boot for day hikes also. Great traction on a wide range of conditons. I think that a little sleet on some lichen covered boulders has to be a pretty good test and they passed famously. Only 200 miles on them but they show no wear and I suspect they will be quite durable. Highly recommended.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

I've had these boots for about a month and have done my best to beat them up. Ten days in the hills above Flagstaff tromping through snow and mud and water and my feet were dry and happy. Two days backpacking in Death Valley through waterfalls and creeks - feet still dry, amazing traction on the slippery rocks, and great support while carrying a pack. Two days backpacking the the Alabama Hills taking a beating scrambling up huge rock piles. A couple of day hikes in between where I appreciated the solid ankle support. These boots are super comfortable, they broke in almost instantly, and they've been my best friend the last three weeks. Worth every penny.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

Be sure to buy one size larger than your normal size and keep your toe nails trimmed. I am a poolman in the L.A. area and have been wearing Renegades for 5 years now. I wear them most of the year. I seem to get more than a year out of them before they leak. My feet are never wet and are always comfortable!!! I always have a new pair waiting for when I need them. I buy when there is a sale.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

Lowas fit me well; with a shoe or boot, thats the main thing I think. I dont think they are made as well they used to be though; had some stitches break after about 4 mos. of hiking use, and a bubble soon developed. All the same, the fit for me is great, they are light on the foot, and water tight up to the top lace. They are good clambering on rocks along the shore, crunching thru sharp encrusted shells, etc. They hold up to slogging thru heavy mud, and a good hosing down after. They can dry out in a day if you can find some sun. I am clumsy, so I need them to protect my feet, and they do it. Never had a sprain or injury.

Not sure about durability. My first pair lasted 13 years. This pair will not make it that far.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

Boot is very light wt. supports the arch and back pack load. great traction on hills . First day out, no hot spots and feet felt great in 12 degree F. temperature.

Comments about Lowa Renegade II GTX Mid Hiking Boots - Men's:

This boot has no torsional rigidity. If you grab the heel and toe of the boot, you can wring it like a sponge. On a recent multiday backpack in the Sierra, I stepped on a rock and rolled over my foot and ankle. Ouch! This almost ended my hike. This never happened before with any other boot. So, although the boot is very comfortable and waterproof (especially when treated with a spray), I am returning the boots [...]. I think the boots would be fine for easy hiking with a light load.